The Neighbourhood Guide to Preston
Preston doesn’t try to impress you. That’s exactly why it does.
Sitting 10 kilometres north of the CBD in the City of Darebin (postcode 3072), Preston is one of those suburbs that locals will defend fiercely. It’s a suburb that has spent decades building a food scene, a community identity, and a reputation for being the place where your Melbourne mate moved “because the rent was cheaper” — and then never left.
High Street is the spine. It runs through the suburb, splitting Preston into a north side and a south side, both of which will claim they got the better deal. The northern stretch toward Plenty Road is where you’ll find the Vietnamese bakeries, the gozleme stalls, and the kind of $14 pho that makes you wonder why anyone pays $24 for ramen in the city. The southern end drifts toward Thornbury, where things get more polished — craft beer bars, natural wine spots, and brunch cafes.
Getting There and Getting Around
Preston is served by three train stations — Preston station, Bell station, and Regent station — all on the South Morang/Mernda line, getting you to Flinders Street in about 25 minutes on a good day. The 86 tram runs along Plenty Road connecting to the CBD via Northcote and Clifton Hill.
The 11 tram runs along Bell Street from the west, and buses loop through the residential streets. Parking is manageable compared to the inner north — you won’t lose your mind like you would in Fitzroy, but High Street on a Saturday arvo is competitive.
The Food Scene
Preston’s food identity is built on two pillars: Vietnamese and Italian, with a growing third pillar of everything else. The High Street strip between Bell Street and Murray Road is one of Melbourne’s most underrated food corridors.
Pho Hung on High Street has been feeding Preston since before “foodie culture” existed. A bowl of rare beef pho runs around $14, and the broth justifies the queues on a freezing July evening. Down the road, Lam Lam fights it out for the loyal regulars.
Dexter on High Street does modern Australian with fire-cooked meat and seasonal veg. Takeaway Pizza across the road does proper wood-fired pies. Tavolata serves handmade pasta that punches above the suburb’s weight.
Preston Market, tucked behind High Street between Murray Road and Cramer Street, is the real heartbeat. Operating since 1970, it’s one of Melbourne’s last great multicultural markets — fresh seafood, Turkish gozleme, Lebanese pastries, Chinese BBQ, and produce prices that make Queen Victoria Market look expensive. Open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Coffee Culture
Arepa Days on Dundas Place serves Colombian arepas with coffee that wouldn’t be out of place in Abbotsford. Moon Rabbit on High Street is a community-focused spot doing jaffles and solid flat whites. Skinny’s does a canteen-style breakfast experience with a coffee program that takes it seriously. George Jones on Murray Road rounds it out with a more refined brunch offering. Near the Reservoir border, The Brickie & The Barista straddles both suburbs.
What Preston Does Better Than Its Neighbours
Northcote has High Street’s trendiest stretch. Thornbury has the bar scene. Reservoir has the bargain prices. But Preston has the depth — more restaurant seats per block than almost any other northern suburb, and Preston Market, something none of those suburbs can match.
Preston also has a better mix of old-school and new-wave. You can get a $6 gozleme from a Turkish grandmother at the market and then walk five minutes to a natural wine bar. That contrast doesn’t exist in most gentrified inner suburbs.
The Streets That Matter
High Street is obvious, but here’s where the locals actually go:
Dundas Place — a quiet side street off High Street with Arepa Days and a few others worth the detour.
Bell Street — the dividing line between “inner Preston” and “the bit near Reservoir.” Stretches either side have excellent Vietnamese, Chinese, and Lebanese spots.
Murray Road — George Jones for brunch, The Keys for bowling and 45 beer taps, and the market precinct.
Cramer Street — near the market, wholesale suppliers, early-morning bakeries, and the kind of produce trucks that start at 3am.
Plenty Road — heading north. Hard Rubbish (a cafe-bar hybrid worth visiting), Window Corner Cafe, Hardout Bar, Rebel Rebel, and The Raccoon Club at 145 Plenty Road.
Gilbert Road — Chumanchu for Vietnamese-Thai, and a growing strip of small operators.
Nightlife and Entertainment
Preston isn’t a late-night suburb. No clubs, no 3am dance floors. But the bar scene has quietly become one of the best in Melbourne’s north.
Hardout Bar on Plenty Road — craft beer, local wine, vinyl DJs. Surly’s on High Street — local ales, pet-nats, mismatched furniture. The Keys on Murray Road — 45 beer taps, 12 bowling lanes, gaming arcade. Oliva Social at 102-104 High Street — cocktails in a modern courtyard. Rebel Rebel on Plenty Road — dive bar in the truest, best sense.
Living in Preston
Median house prices hover around $1.05-1.3 million. Median rent for a two-bedroom around $450-580 per week. Units from $380-440/week for one-bedroom.
Popular with young families, CBD-commuting professionals, and downsizers. City of Darebin council. Schools include Preston North East Primary, Preston West Primary, and Bell Secondary.
Safety is broadly comparable to other inner-northern suburbs. Main streets well-trafficked and well-lit. Standard Melbourne precautions apply.
FAQ
What’s the best street in Preston? High Street for food and shopping. Plenty Road for bars. Murray Road for the market precinct and The Keys. Dundas Place for the hidden cafes.
Is Preston walkable? Yes. Most daily needs — supermarket, cafes, restaurants, public transport — are within walking distance of High Street.
What council is Preston in? City of Darebin, postcode 3072.
The Verdict
Preston is the kind of suburb that rewards loyalty. The pho place you thought was “just okay” on your first visit becomes your go-to in month three. The bar you wandered into becomes your regular Wednesday spot. The market that seemed overwhelming becomes where you shop every weekend. It’s not trying to be Fitzroy. It’s doing its own thing — and doing it exceptionally well.
Getting from Preston to nearby suburbs:
- Thornbury — 10 min walk south along High Street
- Northcote — 20 min walk or one tram stop
- Reservoir — 5 min bike ride north
Explore More of Preston
- Preston History
- Preston Things To Do This Weekend
- Preston Cheap Eats
- Preston Rent Guide
- Preston Date Night Guide
- Preston New Openings
- Preston Things To Do
- Preston Cost of Living
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